The former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, along with others still in detention.
Speaking to reporters in Onitsha on Saturday, Obi emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and addressing the grievances of all agitators.
Obi expressed his belief that there is no justification for Kanu’s continued detention, especially since the court had already granted him bail. He stated, “Government must obey the law as the rule of law is an intrinsic asset that we must cherish and live with. And I have always said that I am going to discuss with every agitator. I plead with the government to ensure that all those who are in similar conditions are released and discussed with. We are a democratic nation and we should not be doing things that are arbitrary and not within the law.”
Highlighting the crucial role of security, Obi urged Nigerian leaders to double their efforts in securing the country. “The primary work of government is the security of lives and property. Security is the foundation on which people can live in any nation because no one can stay in an insecure place,” he said.
Obi expressed concern over the state of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the South East, where daily news of killings, abductions, and kidnappings have made the region one of the most insecure places on earth.
He advised the governors of the South East to come together to tackle the problem.
“As I thank the governments in the zone for their efforts, there is a need to do more. I want our governors to come together as a family to solve this problem. I am saying this with the little experience I had when I was there.”
He called for collaborative efforts between the federal government and state governors, including the involvement of former governors and other experienced leaders to address the insecurity and economic challenges facing the region.
“Even in economic agenda, I want to see the South East governors work closely more. We want to see them come together and also bring together other groups in the zone.”
On the issue of protests, Obi stressed his support for peaceful protests while condemning riots and the destruction of government assets. “I’m against the destruction of government assets and property because it is still our scarce resources that we are going to use to repair them. Peaceful protest is allowed, but it must be for a reason and not personal interest of some people. It must be properly articulated and properly directed.”
Obi reiterated the importance of leadership in addressing the nation’s challenges, stating that good leaders would set positive examples for their agents to follow. He called for the release of those detained due to protests, emphasizing the need to listen to and address the concerns of the people.
Regarding potential political alliances, Obi downplayed the significance of forming a mega party, focusing instead on addressing the urgent needs of Nigerians.
He said: “I’m more particular on how the poor Nigerians can feed. I will rather talk about things that are affecting Nigerians today. We politicians are preoccupied by election, and that is not what I’m after. I’m talking about how we can reduce the prices of food? Our people are dying of hunger. How do we make life more conducive for the poor Nigerian? How do we make our people to earn more money? How do we pull people out of poverty? That should be our concern, and not forming a mega party.
“But if forming a mega party will provide all these things I have illustrated, then I’m all for it. But if it is for state capture, so that you can take power and continue with the consumption, consumption, consumption, that we see today, I will say no. But if it is to move it to production, production, production, then I say yes.”
